Travel English Vocabulary: Planning a Trip

It takes a long time to plan a good trip! There are so many things to think about and so many decisions to make. This travel English lesson includes all the basic travel English vocabulary you need to know to plan your next trip to an English-speaking country!

1. Research places to go and things to see.

Research can be used as a noun or a verb in English. As a verb it means study or find information. There are many ways to research places to go and things to see.

NOTE: As a noun, research is a non-count noun! You cannot do some researches. You can only do some research.

You can read travel guides like Lonely Planet. You can ask friends and family members for advice. You can talk to a travel agent or read travel blogs. You can look for information on social media. (I have learned about a lot of new places in the world on Instagram and Pinterest!)

a travel guide – a book with information on cities or countries, including things to see, places to stay, and how to get there

ask (someone) for advice – ask someone for her opinion or ask someone for suggestions
NOT: advices. Advice is a noncount noun. It doesn’t have a plural form.

a travel agent – a person whose job it is to help you plan a trip and make travel arrangements for you, like buy your plane tickets

a travel blog – a website on which someone writes about her personal travel experiences and recommendations

2. Decide when to go and who to travel with.

Should you travel during peak season or off-season?Peak season is the most popular and the busiest time of year to travel. In Canada and the U.S., peak travel season is July and August. This is the time of year when most people go on vacation because children are out of school for the summer. Flights and hotel rooms are expensive during this time.

a flight – a trip on an airplane

Off-season is the quietest time of year. Flights and hotel rooms are cheaper during this time because no one is traveling. In Canada and the U.S., the off-season is from November to April. It is not a popular time to travel because it is cold during these months.

Do you want to travel with family members, friends, or by yourself?

by yourself – on your own, with no other people

This is an important decision! You are going to spend a lot of time with your travel companions, so make sure you choose the right people to travel with!

5. Check all your travel information

Is your passport still valid? Or has is expired? Do you need to get a new one?
A passport is an official document issued by the government of your country. It says that you are a citizen of that country. It is a small book. It contains your photo, your name, your birthdate, and other important personal information. You need this booklet when you travel to another country.

A valid passport is one that is officially acceptable and can be used to travel. It has not expired. Each passport has a time limit. When that time period ends, your passport expires and you cannot use your passport anymore. You need to get a new one.

Do you need a visa?
A visa is a document or an official stamp in your passport that allows you to visit a country.

Do you need any vaccinations?
A vaccination is an injection of a substance into your body that will protect you from a specific disease. The vaccine is injected, or put, into your body with a needle.

What is the exchange rate?
Every country uses its own money. This money is also called a currency. The exchange rate is a number that is used to determine the value of the money used in your country compared to the value of the money used in another country. For example, right now the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and the American dollar is 0.77359. One dollar ($1) Canadian is equal to $0.77 American.

What is the weather like where you are going?
What should you wear? Does it rain a lot where you are going, or it is sunny all the time?

6. Get ready to travel.

Get any vaccinations you need.

Buy some money in the currency of the country you are visiting. When you arrive, you can also use your credit card or your bank card to take out money at an ATM.

a bank card – a small card that you can use to access your bank account

an ATM – a machine where you can use your bank card to take out money from your bank account (also called a bank machine)

Buy travel insurance. This is important! Insurance is a way to protect yourself if something bad happens unexpectedly during your trip. You pay an amount of money to an insurance company. If something bad happens unexpectedly, like your flight is canceled, you get sick, or the airline loses your luggage, the insurance company will pay you money.

a suitcase – a case that you use to carry your clothes and toiletries when you are traveling; a suitcase has flat sides and a handle, and wheels on the bottom

a backpack – a bag that can be carried on your back

a garment bag – a bag used by business travelers who need to carry suits and formal clothes; garment is a formal word for clothing

Luggage is a noncount noun and doesn’t have plural form. It means all the suitcases and/or bags you take on a trip.

At the airport, all of your luggage is called bags or baggage.

Do you want to take a carry-on bag or check your bag?
Many airlines charge extra (require you to pay a fee) to check your bags. You give your bags to the airline so that someone can put them on the plane in a special section on a plane. This luggage is called a checked bag.

an airline – a company that owns airplanes and uses them to fly passengers to different places.

If you are going on a short trip, it is easier to carry your suitcase, backpack, or small bag on the plane with you. This is called a carry-on.

Hi Melanie. Thanks for your idea
I think as always your topics are very useful advice. Now I decided not to travel but I travel is beneficial for mental and physical health. Meet new places and people very helpful.
thank you
Have a good time
Behzad

Hi Melany
Thanks again for your suggestion.
I’m thinking about planning a trip to Swissland with my family. I have been there previously and I want to repit again.
It is a fascinating country. There are 2 peak seasons; in winter because is a skiing paradise and in summer due to its amazing landscapes.
I always search information in blogs and in an official website. Checking the weather is something that I always do in advance.

I have been to Switzerland, too! I hope you get to go again because it is such a beautiful country. You’re right. It does have two peak seasons! I didn’t even think about that. That’s probably one of the reasons why Switzerland is such a wealthy country!

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About Melanie

I help English learners move from the classroom into the real world by teaching you real world sentences and helping you understand natural spoken English. I also help you find the best study tips and training techniques that work for you!

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